The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-28

! drive off with its precious load, and then
while the captain strolled into the orchard
Ruth went into the house, and they did not
meet again until church goers and all were
seated at the dinner table, Ruth having the
meal ready when the family reached home.
Bob Ingram sent Ruth letter." said
Susie, 'and she won't let me see it, dadn
''Never mind, SUSIE" he said, smiling.
''your turnll come after while"
'Mother," said Ruth, "Bob wants me to
go with him to Sallie Morris this after
noon"
"All right" said the mother, "don't stay
late, Ruthie, there's no moon now"
The captain was surprised and delighted
at Ruth's changed manner toward Bob,
when that youth, dressed in his Sundays
best, drove up to the gate in his shining
new buggy, and Ruth, regardless OF old
shoes-which sEo laughingly displayed to
Bob, telling him she had stayed from NEST
in on account of them-ran down the path,
and with happy face allowed him to assist
her to her seat, and they drove off chatting
merrily.
"Well," thought the captain, 'Ruth's got
more sense'n l thought. She knows when l
say thing l mean it." And very COM
placently he smoked his cob pipe that after
noon as he sat on the front porch.
After that day it was very evident that
| Ruth regarded Bob in new light. Never
a Sunday passed that did not find Bob's
buggy at the captains gate, and it was
| equally astonishing to see the intimacy that
| grew up between Ruth and her old school
mate, Sallie Morris 1t seemed as if they
must always be together-Salle spending
nights with Ruth and Ruth with Sallie.
What do those girls find so much to talk
aboutV' inquired the captain of his Wis
/ one evening, as he saw them parting reluc-
family.
"O,n said his wife, her little deprecating
I smile lighting her face for an instant, "girls
/ can always find enough to talk about, an
| they do say DR.. Hargrave's waitin' on Sal
! lie, an he an Bob are great friends you
| know"
"Wel," said the captain approvingly,
DOCS good match for Sallie, but Bob In
grams worth a dozen of him. l should
think Ruth'd despise fellow as easy car
ried off as he was.''
Mrs Stearns said nothing. In her heart
she had hoped Ruth would marry the doc
tor, but she never spoke to her daughter on
the subject, and if Ruth noticed that her
mothers Pickering smile grew less fire.
quent she said nothing only grew kinder
than ever in her manner toward her
And now summer was almost done, and
the time for the all-important event of the
| year in the neighborhood the camp-meet
| ing, drew near.
Although, as l stated, the captain was not
church-member, no one more thoroughly
enjoyed these gatherings than he, and no
one made more ample preparations for en-
PERTAINING friends and strangers. This year
he was interested, it seemed, more than
usual; and when, one day in August, Sallie
Morris. who had become favorite of his,
drew him aside one evening and told him,
| as great secret, that she was going to be
married during the meeting, and on the
camp-grounds, and that she wanted Ruth
to be married at the same time, he was de-
| lighted.
Gust think, captain" she went on, rap
idly, not giving him a chance to speak,
chow nice it would be. We are enough
alike to be sisters, only Ruth is the slim
NEST and has no freckles. And we would
dress alike, and Doc and Bob think it's a
! splendid plan"
"Well," he answered, you and the doctor
seem to have matters fixed, but 1 dunno
| bout Bob and Ruth. They've not con-
suited me. However, if it suits them it
| does me.'
Sallie laughed gaily.
| Don't you want kiss, captain2n she
said, holding up her pretty face.
| He laughed as he took the offered kiss
and she ran away, telling him not to tell
anybody about it, as Mrs. Stearns might be
jealous.
A day or two afterwards Mr.. Bob In
| orn'S h1u ~ ba
while on the porch the captain was again
being interviewed. Bob's usual ready elo-
quence had deserted him in this hour of
| need, and the captain really seemed to enjoy
his embarrassment At last he stammered
something about himself and Sallie-no,
Rutland Doc and Ruth-no, Sallie-and
the camp-meeting and his new house and
his corn crop, and finally said, had 'the
captain any objections to Ruth's marrying
| good sort of a fellow that just worshiped
her"
This last sentence came clear and en-
phatic, and the captain at once shook hands
with him, and invited him to the house, say
ing:
Ruth is good girl, Bob; she'll make a
good wife,
Eyes sir, know it," said Bob, who had
recovered his equanimity, "but l must be
off l am in a hurry this morning. Tell
Ruth I'll be over Sunday
And Bob sprang into his buggy and drove
off rapidly.
Laughing heartily, the captain entered
the room in which his wife sat sewing, and
coolly informed her that her daughter and
Bob Ingram would be married the second
Sunday in September, and it behooved her
to get ready for the wedding.
few minutes later, Ruth, coming in,
found her mother crying.
80 Ruth" she sobbed, show can / give
you up9"
Three weeks later, beautiful Septem-
Der morning found the captain and his fam
lily arranging their quarters on the camp
ground in Elder creek. The scene was one
of pleasant hustle and confusion. The rude
board tenements, which were fixtures on
the grounds" were being prepared for
tenancy by their owners; while, all around,
white tents were being spread, stoves, in
most cases, being put up behind them un-
der arbors built with forked saplings and
branches of trees; wagons were being
driven into convenient places; horses being
cared for; and everywhere, running hither
and thither in everybody's way, and yet
in nobody's way, were children of all ages,
down TO the wee fodder scarcely able to
keep itself erect on its little feet.
But at ten o'clock, when the bell sounded
the hour for preaching" silence fell.